AUGUSTINE COVE - Annie Lee MacDonald got quite a surprise when she received a phone call last fall from Country Woman magazine.
She had sent the magazine before and after photos of her kitchen renovations as part of a contest seven years ago.

AUGUSTINE COVE - Annie Lee MacDonald got quite a surprise when she received a phone call last fall from Country Woman magazine.
She had sent the magazine before and after photos of her kitchen renovations as part of a contest seven years ago.
"We knew we hadn't won as the winners were featured in the next issue," said MacDonald. "Then we never heard anything since."
Six years later, in October 2009, MacDonald got a call from the American magazine asking if they could feature her Augustine Cove kitchen in the February/March 2010 edition.
"To think they would want to zero in on it and want to showcase it, it was quite exciting," she said. "It's very seldom they feature anything in Canada."
The Wisconsin-based country lifestyle magazine hired Island photographers Barrett and MacKay to photograph MacDonald's kitchen.
"My only instruction was to set the kitchen table for four," she said. "They came in for the afternoon, set up all their lighting and took care of everything."
MacDonald's favourite part of her renovated kitchen is her walk-in baking area. The corner section features a counter for all of her baking and a storage area for her recipe books, baking supplies and all necessary appliances. Her baking mess can be hidden from pop-in guests just by closing the doors.
"It has everything I need for my baking right there," said MacDonald. "It's like a private work area."
Although she designed most of the kitchen she did have help from Island contractor Joe Dunphy.
"He was great with little details. He would spot things immediately like my doorway needing to be moved six inches in order to be centered," said MacDonald.
Another unique feature in the kitchen is a velvet-lined pullout drawer that stores her silverware.
Giving the kitchen a rustic Island look is MacDonald's collection of wooden bird carvings by P.E.I. artist Ernie Biggar.
"I love his pieces. I have about a dozen of them throughout my home and cottage."
MacDonald's renovated kitchen allows her to spend more time with dinner guests.
"It's great if I'm entertaining. I use to be in the kitchen preparing the meal and I would miss out on all the great conversations in the dining room," she said. "Now that it's all opened up, I can prepare the meal and take part in the conversation."
MacDonald said when she received the magazine featuring her kitchen she couldn't believe her eyes.
"I hardly recognized it," she said.
"I was so proud of my kitchen."